Friday, 4th July 2025
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  • Opie Looking to Be the Boss Again

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    After six months away from racing, legendary New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson is set to return to the saddle with renewed enthusiasm and focus. The 44-year-old, who announced his retirement last December citing physical and mental fatigue, said the break has helped restore both his health and passion for the sport, and he now feels ready to resume riding in the new season. “It has been at the back of my mind for a little while now,” Bosson said. “I have still been riding track work, and there are a lot of nice horses coming through. I didn’t really lose a lot of fitness, and I have got the hunger back again that I lost. I decided about eight weeks ago that I wanted to come back, so I have been training hard.” Weight management was a persistent challenge throughout his decorated career and played a major role in his decision to step away. However, Bosson revealed that this time around, things are progressing more naturally. “I really needed the break to get my head right and the body right, and everything seems to be going well,” he said. “I’ve been working on bringing my weight down naturally without having to get in saunas and stuff like that. I haven’t missed a meal, and the weight is coming down perfectly.” During his time off, Bosson embraced a slower pace of life—fishing, socialising outside racing, and enjoying a summer devoid of the daily grind. But the pull of racing proved too strong. “I have done a lot of fishing and met a lot of people outside of racing as well, I really enjoyed the summer,” he said. “But I’ve got the hunger back that I lost and I’ll start riding at the start of the new season.” Bosson will reunite with powerhouse stable Te Akau Racing, having spent much of his break training and helping out at Te Akau Stud. “They have been so good to me,” he said, highlighting the support of Te Akau principal David Ellis. He’ll also have a fresh voice managing his rides, with former jockey Michael Coleman taking over as agent from long-time associate Aidan Rodley. With 2146 career wins and 99 at Group One level, Bosson is just one victory shy of a remarkable milestone. While Te Akau’s growing Cranbourne base offers tempting opportunities across the Tasman, for now, Bosson is focused solely on making his mark at home. “I haven’t really thought about it (Melbourne) at this stage,” he said. “I just want to get back going in New Zealand first.”

    Opie Bosson

    Opie Bosson will be welcomed back by Te Akau Racing (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)

  • Mares Could Dominate in Glasshouse

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    With mares having won three of the past five runnings of the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast, the four mares in this year's $300,000 field all come into the race with solid form and it there's every chance we'll see one of them take the prize. Trainer Chris Waller will saddle up two of the mares with last start Gr2 Dane Ripper fifth-placed Gumdrops (Written Tycoon-Sugar Bella, by Not A Single Doubt) coming through one of the best possible form references. Having finished two and a half lengths off the second placed Tashi (Sebring) with Abounding (Rich Enuff) and Olentia (Zoustar) finishing behind her – that trio went on to fill the trifecta positions next start in the Gr1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m). Purchased for $600,000 from the Inglis Easter draft consigned by Lime Country Thoroughbreds, success in this race would be the second black type victory for the mare, having won the Gr3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes with her previous trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. Waller's other runner Vienna Princess (Snitzel-Graciousness, by Street Cry) resumed with a poor effort in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes recently, but as it was her first start in almost a year, connections will be hoping for an improved effort second up on. Often working home well to highlight herself as a 'back me next start', Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans' Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet-Kiss Me Goodbye, by Savabeel) did the same with her third in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes last start. With two of her four wins coming at the distance of Saturday's race, the rising 7YO looks a chance. Scouting to secure her first black type win, Sunset Dreaming (Impending-Whatalovelyday, by Domesday) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Benedetta (Hellbent). Having just her second start for Tony Gollan after being purchased at the Magic Millions National broodmare sale, one would be silly to suggest she can't further improve as part of her new stable.

  • Australian Influence in SAF's Durban July

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    This Saturday sees the running of one of South Africa's most famous races, the R5m HollywoodBets Durban July (2200m) run at Durban's Greyville racecourse. With Australian exports to South Africa having slowed considerably in recent years, the influence in the race, both past and present from our local industry remains of interest. 2004 winner Greys Inn was an American bred son of Zabeel out of the Australian bred mare Great Verdict, while in 2011 Champion trainer Mike de Kock won the race with the outstanding Igugu (Galileo), a filly bred in Australia by Kia Ora Stud. Just three years later, the Newhaven Park-bred Wylie Hall (Redoute's Choice) was first past the post before being relegated to second in the stewards' room while in 2016, the Tyreel Stud-bred The Conglomerate gave Darley's Champion Sire Lonhro his first elite level winner in South Africa. The hype around this year's race is dominated by the Justin Snaith-trained Eight On Eighteen (Lancaster Bomber) with the 3YO colt being relatively lighted raced with five wins, three of those at Group 1 level, from just ten starts. From an outstanding local South African pedigree that will assure him stallion appeal, there are still a handful in the race that one can draw an Australian connection to. Last year's winner Oriental Charm who is chasing consecutive wins is out of a mare by Greys Inn, who is interestingly also the sire of first emergency Litigation. Stakes winners On My Honour and The Real Prince are sons of the Australian-bred, Champion South African sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready). De Kock's Group 3-winning 3YO Immediate Edge (Vercingetorix) is out of the Commands mare Anhaar, herself a three-quarter-sister to the Australian-bred, South African triple Group 1 winner Soqrat (Epaulette). Already a Group 1 winner, 4YO Purple Pitcher is a son of the Australian bred, ill-fated New Approach stallion New Predator. No matter what the result, the race, and more so the day itself, is a once in a lifetime experience!

    Colourful Durban July

    The colourful Durban July will come alive on Saturday

  • Smith Chasing Winx Guineas With Millie

    Friday, 4th July 2025
     Producing an eye-catching run last time out when coming from way off the pace over 1800m at Randwick to finish fourth against the older mares, the Matthew Smith trained Millie De Lune (Puissance de Lune-Millsee, by Street Sense) will tackle Saturday's Gr3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast. Interestingly, no filly has won the race since 2015 when Winx (Street Cry) took the prize by coming from way back in the pack to commence her 33 consecutive winning streak. Purchased for just $30,000 from the draft of Hollylodge at the 2023 Inglis Premier yearling sale by her trainer and agent John Foote, the lightly raced filly has two wins over 1500m and 2000m, which should see her right in the thick of things come Saturday. From barrier 1, jockey Ashley Morgan will need to ensure she doesn't get shuffled too far back and find trouble in the run. In this last ten years, the 3YO feature race has been won not only Winx, but two years' back by this season's Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice) as well as Group 1 winners Tivaci (High Chaparral) and The Bostonian (Jimmy Choux) – genuinely highlighting the race as an excellent pointer to future elite level success.

  • Winter Warmer For Zoustar's Astero

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    Off the back of two quality efforts at his most recent starts including a last start third in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) behind the in-form Headley Grange (Exosphere) – see below – Matthew Smith's Astero (Zoustar-Lacey Lou, by Snitzel) lines up in Saturday's Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) as a contender. Settling back in the field last time out before working home extremely well under Andrew Adkins, Astero has drawn wide on Saturday in barrier 12 and is likely to be in a similar position turning for home as he was last time out. With some solid form at the distance, and also at the track, the 7YO gelding is eyeing his first black type victory. Finishing ahead of Astero last start in the Civic Stakes when second – he's subsequently gone up in weight to carry equal top impost of 60kg – Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Welwal (Shalaa-Cheriearch, by Arch) must also surely have a chance. Another also set to carry 60kg is Bjorn Baker's Robusto (Churchill-She's Clean, by Redoute's Choice), who races second up here. With connections having a high enough opinion of the gelding to start him first up in the recent Gr1 Stradbroke Handicap, the former Ingham family-owned galloper has really stepped up with his change of trainer and owner. From eight starts with the Baker yard, Robusto has recorded success in the $2m Gr2 Ingham along with a further four top four placed efforts.

  • There's a Bear On The Loose in Caloundra

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    Second in his last two starts including a gallant effort in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) behind stablemate Sir Lucan (Camelot), the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bear On The Loose (Footstepsinthesand-Ihtiraam, by Teofilo) heads to Queensland on Saturday for the $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m). Winning his first start in Australia back in June 2024 where he defeated Don Deigo De Vega (Lope de Vega-Fairly Fair, by Sinndar), who he will also meet here, Bear On The Loose has been winless in his subsequent eight starts, but has recorded four second placed efforts. From barrier 1, jockey Angela Jones is likely to take the gelding forward and in true Waterhouse/Bott style, may play catch-me-if you-can tactics. Having finished first and second in the recent Listed Ipswich Cup, Flash Aah (Lucas Cranach-Never Despair, by Hotel Grand) and Felix The Scat (Mendelssohn-Miss Pocket Rocket, by Smart Missile) both line up here on Saturday and it would not surprise to see the pair right in the finish here even though neither has won over 2400m in the past. Annabel and Rob Archibald's Hopeful (Motivator-Monst, by Monsun) is improving in each of his recent runs and with five top three placed finishes from seven starts at the trip, the German-bred rising 9YO could run a big race for his On Track Thoroughbred owners.

  • Peltzer Could Sire His First Stakes Winner

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    A winner of his last two starts, and most notably his recent start over 1420m at Flemington where he pulled away from his rivals to score by more than two lengths, the Patrick and Michelle Payne trained Buccleuch (Peltzer-Golden Fastnet, by Fastnet Rock) will start the short priced favourite in his quest to become the first stakes winner for his young Twin Hill Stud-based sire in Saturday's Listed Taj Rossie Series Final (1600m). While Peltzer is known for his speed, being arguably one of the fastest sons of his sire So You Think, Buccleuch is sure to get his staying ability from his grandsire. Following through the form from his recent win, Buccleuch defeated the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Arcora (Justify-Casuarina Forest, by Fastnet Rock). Having also trained his half-sister Foxy Cleopatra (Foxwedge), the stable understands the family, and it looks as if the step up to 1600m will surely help bridge the gap between him and Buccleuch. Successful over 1500m last time out when breaking his maiden, Godolphin's Bayou Music (Street Boss-Zydeco, by Zabeel) is surely one to consider with his Zabeel-sired dam a winner of the Gr2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m as well as a runner-up in the Gr1 VRC Oaks (2500m) during her 3YO season.

    Peltzer

    Well performed Peltzer (pic: Steve Hart)

  • Flemington Form Key in Sprint Series Final

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    A winner of over $1m in career earnings highlighted by three wins and a third from five starts down the Flemington straight, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Joyful Fortune (Nicconi-Sneaky Tsu, by Tsuimai) appears extremely hard to beat in Saturday's Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) despite being asked to carry 60kg. With his two most recent victories both coming at Listed level down the Flemington straight, albeit it both over 1000m, the rising 9YO gelding looked good winning a recent four horse jump out and should perform well fresh, especially with three wins and two placed efforts from six first up runs. Having recorded success at his past two starts, both down the Flemington straight, the Leon & Troy Corstens and Will Larkin trained Marble Nine (Kobayashi-Aura Lee, by O'Reilly) has race fitness on his side which will surely suit here on Saturday. Drawn to the immediate outside of Joyful Fortune, the favoured pair have slightly different racing patterns with Marble Nine often settling handy while Joyful Fortune goes back. Godolphin will saddle up two runners with rising 6YO gelding Pereille (Fastnet Rock-Montsegur, by New Approach) currently the race favourite, but stablemate Inhibitions (Zoustar-Workdrinks, by Fastnet Rock) is certainly not be discounted if she is on her A-game in what is sure to shape into a tactical event.

  • Fasig-Tipton Literally Stops the 2YO Clock

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    In a move poised to reshape the landscape of juvenile thoroughbred sales, key US sales company Fasig-Tipton has unveiled a major overhaul of its Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, set to debut in 2026. The changes – chiefly the removal of official breeze times and a ban on using whips during workouts – are designed to showcase horses' natural ability and encourage a broader spectrum of buyers, particularly those seeking more horse-friendly practices, reports TDN. From 2026, the under-tack show will be entirely untimed, with no official clocking of breezes. Riders will still be permitted to carry crops for safety but will no longer be allowed to strike horses during workouts. “These changes reflect our commitment to improving our 2YO sales process,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We believe buyer focus has skewed too heavily toward stopwatch-based evaluations. This approach is intended to restore balance, emphasising how a horse moves and presents itself on the track.” The initiative is part of a longer-term vision aimed at making the sales environment more accessible and less performance-pressured. “By focusing less on clock-driven evaluations and removing whip use, we believe we can create a more accessible and horse-first sales environment,” Browning said. “Our aim is to better serve traditional buyers while also welcoming new owners, trainers, and end-users who are interested in acquiring horses that are physically ready and mentally sound for the racetrack.” This policy shift was catalysed by an unforeseen trial at the 2025 edition of the sale, when poor weather forced a pivot to untimed gallops on the final day of the under tack show. The resulting feedback from buyers and consignors was overwhelmingly positive, and horses reportedly emerged from their workouts in excellent condition. “It became an unexpected case study,” Browning explained. “The show presented well visually, the horses came through it in great shape, and the feedback from leading buyers and consignors was extremely supportive.” The 2026 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale will take place in Timonium, Maryland, shortly after the Preakness Stakes. The company is confident that this refreshed format, grounded in horsemanship and long-view thinking, will mark a new era in the way young horses are evaluated and purchased.

    Stopwatch

    Timed breeze-ups may be on the way out in the USA

  • Treasury Tax Could Devastate UK Industry

    Friday, 4th July 2025
    British racing has been urged to mount a united defence against proposed tax reforms that could deliver a devastating financial blow to the sport. According to racingpost.com, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is warning that Treasury plans to merge online gambling duties into a single rate could cost racing at least £66 million a year in lost income. It is encouraging all involved in the sport – from participants to punters – to contact their MPs and demand the government abandon the so-called “racing tax”. The Treasury is consulting on changes that would dissolve the current three-band structure of online gambling taxes into a single Remote Betting and Gaming Duty. At present, betting on racing and sport is taxed at 15 per cent, but the new framework could see it rise to match the 21 per cent duty imposed on games of chance like online slots and casinos. According to BHA-commissioned analysis, even a modest rise could severely undermine the sport’s revenues through reductions in the levy, media rights and sponsorship, as bookmakers look to offset the extra tax by slashing bonuses, advertising spend, and value offered to bettors. The BHA claimed racing could lose £97m if taxed at 25 per cent, £126m at 30 per cent – the rate floated by the Institute of Public Policy Research – and a staggering £160m if aligned with the 40 per cent rate applied to online casino games. “The government’s consultation on harmonising online betting duties, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to racing the sport has ever seen,” said acting BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea. “It will punch a huge hole in racing’s finances, risk thousands of jobs across Britain and threaten the future of the country’s second most-popular sport and a cherished national institution.”The BHA is submitting a formal response to the consultation, which closes July 21, and has welcomed comments from Treasury minister James Murray, who said officials would work with the racing sector to identify unintended consequences and explore mitigations. However, the alarm bells are already ringing across the industry. A cross-party parliamentary report last month described the combined threat of proposed tax reform, affordability checks, and the government’s failure to reform the levy as a “triple whammy” threatening British racing’s long-term future. “From now until the budget we will be hammering home a very simple message to MPs, peers and the government on behalf of millions of racing fans,” Dunshea said. “It’s time for the government to back British racing and axe the racing tax.”
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2025 BTR Stud Stallions

BTP STUD STALLIONS

Sire
A Lot Established
Acrobat Established
Al Maher Established
Alabama Express Established
All American Established
All Too Hard Established
Alpine Eagle Established
Alpine Edge 2nd Season
Anders Established
Artie Schiller Established
Awesome Rock Established
Barbados Established
Barbaric 1st crop 2YOs
Best Of Bordeaux Established
Better Than Ready Established
Bivouac Established
Brave Smash Established
Brazen Beau Established
Bruckner 3rd Season
Bull Point Established
Bullbars Established
Cape Of Good Hope 3rd Season
Capitalist Established
Captivant 1st crop 2YOs
Castelvecchio Established
City Of Troy Established
Cliff's Edge Established
Cogburn 1st Season
Cool Aza Beel Established
D'argento Established
Danerich Established
Dash For Cash Established
De Gaulle Established
Delaware 1st crop 2YOs
Denman Established
Dirty Work Established
Dissident Established
Don Corleone 2nd Season
Doubtland Established
Dubious Established
Dundeel Established
Ellsberg 3rd Season
Encryption Established
Exceedance Established
Exosphere Established
Extreme Choice Established
Farnan Established
Flying Artie Established
Foxwedge Established
Frankel My Dear Established
Gingerbread Man Established
Gold Standard Established
Graff Established
Grunt Established
Hallowed Crown Established
Harry Angel Established
Hawaii Five Oh 2nd Season
Headwater Established
Hellbent Established
Hitotsu 3rd Season
Home Affairs Established
I Am Immortal Established
I Am Invincible Established
Ilovethiscity Established
Invader Established
Jacquinot 3rd Season
Ka Ying Master 3rd Season
Kermadec Established
King Colorado 2nd Season
King's Legacy Established
Lofty Strike 2nd Season
Lord Of The Sky Established
Love Conquers All Established
Manhattan Rain Established
Maschino Established
Master Of Design Established
Maurice Established
Merchant Navy Established
Mo'unga 2nd Season
Murtajill Established
My Admiration Established
Needs Further Established
Nicconi Established
Nostradamus Established
Officiating 2nd Season
Ole Kirk Established
Pariah Established
Pierata Established
Pierro Established
Pinatubo 1st crop 2YOs
Playing God Established
Portland Sky 1st crop 2YOs
Power Established
Prague Established
Pride Of Dubai Established
Private Life Established
Puissance De Lune Established
Rebel Dane Established
Rich Enuff Established
Rommel Established
Rubick Established
Russian Camelot Established
Russian Revolution Established
Safeguard Established
Sandbar Established
Sessions Established
Shaft Established
Shalaa Established
Shamoline Warrior Established
Shamus Award Established
Shinzo Established
Shooting To Win Established
Sidestep Established
Sizzling Established
Skilled Established
Smart Missile Established
Snitzel Established
So Secret Established
So You Think Established
Soul Patch Established
Southport Tycoon 1st Season
Spirit Of Boom Established
Squamosa Established
St Mark's Basilica Established
Star Turn Established
Star Witness Established
Street Boss Established
Super One Established
Supido Established
Swear Established
Sweet Ride 2nd Season
Switzerland Established
The Autumn Sun Established
The Brothers War Established
Time To Reign Established
Too Darn Hot Established
Toorak Toff Established
Top Echelon Established
Toronado Established
Trapeze Artist Established
Turffontein Established
Unite And Conquer Established
Universal Ruler Established
Vancouver Established
Vandeek Established
Victor Ludorum 1st crop 2YOs
Von Costa De Hero Established
Wandjina Established
Winning Rupert Established
Wooded 1st crop 2YOs
Wootton Bassett Established
Worthy Cause Established
Written By Established
Written Tycoon Established
Xtravagant Established
Your Song Established
Zousain Established
Zoustar Established